The Devon fishing year is certainly up and running and a huge 130 anglers signed on for the Angling Trust Wyvern Open at Slapton Sands on Sunday with some good fish going to the scales.

We don’t yet have the full results but the winner was Tom Travers of Honiton SAC weighing in a Spotted Ray and a Whiting, giving him the £200 prize and the pool money. Junior Archie Sweetland, also of Honiton SAC, also finished in the top ten.

A brilliant effort from all the enthusiastic anglers on another wet and wild weekend – it will all be worth it when the warmth returns and the biggest problem is suncream and a hat.

Exmouth SAC members fished the first round of the Tom Shepherd monthly league at Budleigh Salterton, with 15 anglers landing over 110 fish.

Pete Clarke took first place with 51 points, with Chris Wood and Grant Morrish taking the next two places. Fish caught included Bass, Pout, Whiting, Congers, Rockling, Bull Huss and a new club record Coalfish of 3lbs for Matt Ball.

Brixham SAC fished the first round of their triple fluke competition with Daniel Patrick taking the honours with his Flounder of 2lbs 8drms fishing one of the estuaries in water that resembled hot chocolate.

The Bristol Channel is still producing Rays from the shore, along with the odd Cod, whilst plenty of Whiting are falling to the rods of those fishing at night along the south coast, Kev Madeley and Adrian Houghton finding plenty of them to just over the specimen weight of 1lb 8oz.

Many anglers who fished at Newbarn Angling centre have now joined Exeter Angling club, whilst I intend to fish with my granddaughter this year at some of Newton Abbot Fishing Association water. I look forward to getting some pictures of the fish from these venues.

Please email them along with any catch reports to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com along with your entries for our fish of the month competition, which is kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures. I am still looking for a sponsor for the freshwater prize if anyone can help.

Exmouth Journal: